Norfolk Stakes
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 14:30
£110,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
5f, Class 1   
Thursday 22nd June 2023

Boylesports

1 Valiant Force 150/1
2 Malc 66/1
3 Elite Status 7/4F
14 ran NR: Baheer, Hala Emaraaty
Distances: 1¼l, ½l, ¾l Time: 59.75s (slow by 0.35s)

Valiant Force became the joint longest-priced winner ever at Royal Ascot when causing a 150/1 shock, the same starting price as 2020 Coventry Stakes victor Nando Parrado.

Despite having been beaten on both previous starts, the Adrian Murray-trained colt shot away from his rivals entering the final furlong, winning comfortably by a length and a quarter at the line to give jockey Rossa Ryan his second winner of the week.

It was a first Royal Ascot winner for Murray and Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing, which had placed at the meeting eight times before, not least in this corresponding race 12 months ago.

Malc, representing last year’s winning trainer Richard Fahey, was second at odds of 66/1, with 7/4 favourite Elite Status a further half-length behind in third. 

Murray said: “I can’t believe it. I fell into racing by accident. A friend of mine got me involved in the Flat. It's magic. We were third here on Tuesday [in the Coventry Stakes] and I wondered if that would ever happen again. 

“We knew Valiant Force was a nice horse and I couldn’t believe the price – he was only beaten less than a length by His Majesty first time out and was 150/1 today. It didn't make sense – I knew he was much better than that. It’s the stuff of dreams. It’s great for the small man. I’m based in Mullingar and have had some right nice jumpers in the past. I love it, love racing.”

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Ryan, who was retained by Amo Racing until last autumn, said: “To be fair to the lads, they were confident he would run a big race. If you take away his last run at the Curragh when he was [left] on his own, he's run a stormer first time out in a Listed race and that's the most important form.

“He's bred well, he's bred to be a sprinter by Malibu Moon and if you look at him, he's something else to look at – he was almost the stand-out in the paddock beside Karl Burke's horse.

“He jumped well and did everything right – he was just in a rhythm and when I took a lead off Kevin [Stott on Thunder Blue] outside the two, I was always in a rhythm. I could have probably won further if something had come at me. 

“He's got the job done and to be still associated with Amo Racing is a big part for me. To get Kia [Joorabchian, head of Amo Racing] his first Royal Ascot winner is redemption for defeat last year.”

Fahey said of Malc: “I am delighted, absolutely over the moon. We thought we had a nice bunch, but it’s so tough here and you need everything to go right. I just felt with a couple of the others it didn’t go right, but today everything went right, he stuck his head down and had a go.”

Asked whether he feels this is a pure five-furlong horse, he added: “To be honest, we feel he is a six-furlong horse but at Ascot you’ve nearly got to get six. Mid-part of the race there, I’m not saying that’s where we lost it, but we just got a little bit outpaced and the winner got through strong. But I would have taken that well before the race.”

FormRatings

Oisin Orr added: “Malc has run a lovely race. His inexperience maybe just told today. He got a bit outpaced mid-race and he stayed on well. I think he’s going to come on when he goes up in trip.”

Elite Status’ trainer Karl Burke said: “He’s a lovely horse with a great future in front of him. The Prix Morny was always the target before today, so whether that’s changed – I’m just going to see Sheikh Obaid now – but I would imagine we will step him up into that type of race. He’s a proper Group horse. He is not the finished article yet.”

Joel Rosario said of American Rascal: “He broke real well out of there and they kind of got away a little bit from me. It was his first time here and it was all a little different for him. We will go on to the next one.”

Cleeve Racing £10 trial

Norfolk Stakes
£110,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 5f, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good to Firm

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5)    Valiant Force 2 9-3 Adrian Murray Rossa Ryan 150/1
2 (6) 1¼ Malc 2 9-3 Richard Fahey Oisin Orr 66/1
3 (4) ½ Elite Status 2 9-3 K R Burke Clifford Lee 7/4F
4 (16) ¾ His Majesty 2 9-3 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 11/2
5 (8) 1½ Thunder Blue 2 9-3 Dominic Ffrench Davis Kevin Stott 20/1
6 (7) 1¼ Devious 2 9-3 Donnacha O'Brien Gavin Ryan 14/1
7 (2) ¾ Reveiller 2 9-3 Archie Watson Hollie Doyle 33/1
8 (9) ½ Mon Na Slieve 2 9-3 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 25/1
9 (15) ¾ No Nay Mets 2 9-3 George Weaver Frankie Dettori 13/2
10 (13) ½ The Fixer 2 9-3 F-H Graffard Mickael Barzalona 22/1
11 (14) 1¼ Toca Madera 2 9-3 Brian Meehan Sean Levey 66/1
12 (12) shd Shayekh 2 9-3 Alice Haynes Kieran O'Neill 200/1
13 (1) 1 American Rascal 2 9-3 Wesley A Ward Joel Rosario 4/1
14 (11) 2½ Noche Magica 2 9-3 P Twomey W J Lee 17/2
WD 2 (3) 2 Baheer 2 9-3 Richard Hannon WITHDRAWN
NR 5 (10) Hala Emaraaty 2 9-3 Alice Haynes NON RUNNER

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NORFOLK STAKES WINNERS

YEAR GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2022 2 THE RIDLER Richard Fahey Paul Hanagan Steve Bradley 2-9-03 50/1
2021 2 PERFECT POWER Richard Fahey Paul Hanagan Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum 2-9-01 14/1
2020 2 THE LIR JET Michael Bell Oisin Murphy Qatar Racing Ltd 2-9-01 9/2
2019 2 A'ALI Simon Crisford Frankie Dettori Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa 2-9-01 5/1
2018 2 SHANG SHANG SHANG Wesley Ward USA Joel Rosario Breeze Easy LLC 2-8-12 5/1
2017 2 SIOUX NATION Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier 2-9-01 14/1
2016 2 PRINCE OF LIR Robert Cowell Luke Morris Cool Silk Racing Partnership 2-9-01 8/1
2015 2 WATERLOO BRIDGE Aidan O’Brien IRE Ryan Moore Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor 2-9-01 12/1
2014 2 BAITHA ALGA Richard Hannon Frankie Dettori Al Shaqab Racing 2-9-01 8/1
2013 2 NO NAY NEVER Wesley Ward USA Joel Rosari Linda Shanahan & Ice Wine Stable 2-9-01 4/1
2012 2 RECKLESS ABANDON Clive Cox Adam Kirby Miss J Deadman & S Barrow 2-9-01 4/1
2011 2 BAPAK CHINTA Kevin Ryan Phillip Makin T A Rahman 2-9-01 6/1
2010 2 APPROVE William Haggas Eddie Ahern Highclere Thoroughbred Racing 2-9-01 16/1
2009 2 RADIOHEAD Brian Meehan Jamie Spencer Carmen Burrell & Jonathan Harvey 2-9-01 10/1
2008 2 SOUTH CENTRAL Howard Johnson Robert Winston Transcend Bloodstock LLP 2-9-01 11/4F
2007 2 WINKER WATSON Peter Chapple-Hyam Jimmy Fortune Comic Strip Heroes/Joy Trotter 2-9-01 2/1F
2006 2 DUTCH ART Peter Chapple-Hyam Alan Munro Susan Roy 2-9-01 11/4
*2005 3 MASTA PLASTA Howard Johnson Robert Winston Transcend Bloodstock Llp 2-8-12 7/2
2004 3 BLUE DAKOTA Jeremy Noseda Eddie Ahern Adrian Nolan, Geraldine Ryan 2-8-12 5/4F
2003 3 RUSSIAN VALOUR Mark Johnston Kevin Darley Tony Latter & Partners 2-8-12 4/1
2002 3 BARON’S PIT Richard Hannon snr Richard Hughes Jeff & Kath Thomas 2-8-12 12/1
2001 3 JOHANNESBURG Aidan O’Brien IRE Michael Kinane Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier 2-8-12 11/8F
2000 3 SUPERSTAR LEO William Haggas Richard Quinn Superstar Leo Partnership 2-8-07 5/1
99/17/06 3 WARM HEART John Gosden Frankie Dettori Sheikh Mohammed 2-8-12 7/2
98/18/06 3 ROSSELLI Jack Berry John Carroll Terry Holdcroft 2-8-12 10/1
97/19/06 3 TIPPITT BOY Kevin McAuliffe John Reid Highgrove Developments Ltd 2-8-12 33/1
96/20/06 3 TIPSY CREEK Ben Hanbury Willie Ryan Abdullah Ali 2-8-12 7/2F
95/22/06 2 LUCKY LIONEL Richard Hannon snr Frankie Dettori Antonio Balzarini 2-8-12 11/1
94/16/06 3 MIND GAMES Jack Berry John Carroll Robert Hughes 2-8-13 5/2
93/17/06 3 TURTLE ISLAND Peter Chapple-Hyam John Reid Robert Sangster 2-8-13 3/1
92/18/06 3 NICHE Richard Hannon snr Lester Piggott Lord Carnarvon 2-8-08 9/1
91/20/06 3 MAGIC RING Paul Cole Alan Munro Fahd Salman 2-8-13 7/4F
90/21/06 3 LINE ENGAGED David Elsworth Steve Cauthen I Karageorgis 2-8-13 14/1
89/22/06 3 PETILLANTE Alex Scott Richard Hills Peter Newell 2-8-08 10/1
88/16/06 3 SUPERPOWER Bill O’Gorman Tony Ives Mrs Poh Lian Yong 2-8-13 EvensF
87/18/06 3 COLMORE ROW William Jarvis Bruce Raymond Doris Allen 2-8-13 10/3
86/19/06 3 SIZZLING MELODY Lord John FitzGerald Richard Hills Mary Watt 2-8-11 5/1
85/20/06 3 MAROUBLE Charlie Nelson Joe Mercer Countess of Lonsdale 2-8-11 20/1
84/21/06 3 MAGIC MIRROR Vincent O’Brien IRE Lester Piggott Stavros Niarchos 2-8-11 11/8
83/16/06 3 PRECOCIOUS Henry Cecil Lester Piggott Lord Tavistock 2-8-11 4/11F
82/17/06 3 BRONDESBURY Bill O’Gorman Tony Ives Ahmed Foustok 2-8-11 8/11F
81/18/06 3 DAY IS DONE Dermot Weld IRE Wally Swinburn Bertram Firestone 2-8-11 5/2
80/19/06 3 CHUMMYS SPECIAL Gavin Hunter Greville Starkey Jack Maxwell 2-8-11 11/2
79/21/06 3 ROMEO ROMANI Ryan Price Brian Taylor Harry Demetriou 2-8-11 7/2
78/22/06 3 SCHWEPPESHIRE LAD Michael Stoute Greville Starkey M Madden 2-8-11 9/4
77/16/06 3 EMBOSS Ron Boss Lester Piggott Torki Saud 2-8-11 11/4
76/16/06 3 GODSWALK Christy Grassick IRE Dermot Hogan Patrick Gallagher 2-8-11 8/13F
75/19/06 3 FALIRAKI Mick O’Toole IRE Lester Piggott Mrs M O’Toole 2-8-11 6/1
74/20/06 3 OVERTOWN Doug Smith Eric Eldin Sir H Calley 2-8-11 9/2
73/21/06 3 HABAT Peter Walwyn Pat Eddery Dr Carlo Vittadini 2-8-11 7/4F
*run at York

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