Queen's Vase
 QuinnBet
Group 2, Ascot 17:35
£265,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
1m 6f 34y, Class 1  
Wednesday 21st June 2023

Boylesports

1 Gregory EvsF
2 Saint George 10/1
3 Chesspiece 11/2
14 ran Distances: 1½l, 3¾l, 1¼l
Time: 3m 3.13s (slow by 1.63s)

Frankie Dettori entered the Royal Ascot winner’s enclosure for the first time in 2023 after driving Gregory to a popular length-and-a-half success.

The even-money favourite is now unbeaten in three starts for John & Thady Gosden after digging in gamely to repel a persistent challenge from Saint George in the closing stages.

Dettori, who rode three seconds on opening day of the meeting, has now partnered 78 Royal Ascot winners, with his first coming 33 years ago.

Chesspiece, the first horse to run in the Godolphin silks for Simon & Ed Crisford, finished a further three and three-quarter lengths behind Saint George in third.

Dettori said: “I thought this winner was never going to come this year. I had three seconds yesterday, but I thought this horse was my best chance today.

“I knew this horse was good enough, but I wasn’t so sure about his experience. He is very laid-back at home and I thought if he doesn’t jump, he will get lost, but he jumped great, I got him to the front and I knew he would stay very well.

“I was in front for a long time and, when Oisin [Murphy, on runner-up Saint George] came to me, I thought 'oh, no, not another second'. To this horse's credit he really stuck his neck out.

“He was like a sleeping giant in the yard, and all of a sudden he's a Royal Ascot winner. Potentially, he could be a nice St Leger horse for the end of the season, but John and Thady will work something out.

“It's my last Royal Ascot and to ride a winner is fantastic. It's amazing the reception I got because it's my last season – I'm both sad and happy. I've got another three days here and it's nice to get one on the board.

“Ascot very kindly gave me a box for my family today and most of them are here, so I'm glad I could ride a winner in front of them.”

Trainers Quotes

Thady Gosden said: “Gregory is a horse who has only ever run twice in his life before today. He is still very inexperienced and has improved with every start.

“It was bit uncertain today as with the 14-furlong start, you’re straight into the bend, and it was whether the horse broke well and had the nous to get a good position. But obviously he got up there and took the lead. Frankie rode the fractions perfectly, he picked up very well in the straight and kept on finding.

“He obviously never ran last year at two, but he always looked a nice staying colt for this year. He’s by Golden Horn, out of Gretchen, a very good family for this sort of distance and possibly further. He’s also a horse who likes top of the ground as well, so it’s all worked out.”

On where the horse will go next, he said: “We shall have to see how he comes out of it. The ultimate target we are looking at is the St Leger and we will see where we go before that – we could possibly drop him back in trip.”

Saint George’s trainer Andrew Balding said: “He has run a great race. He’s still relatively inexperienced, as is the winner, but he’s improving with every run, so it’s exciting.”

Oisin Murphy added: “Saint George travelled super and I thought I might be able to come and get the winner, but it was a good battle and they pulled well clear of the rest."

Cleeve Racing £10 trial

Queen's Vase (Group 2)
£265,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 1m 6f 34y, Class 1
14 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in Places

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (8)    Gregory 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Frankie Dettori EvsF
2 (4) 1½ Saint George 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 10/1
3 (7) 3¾ Chesspiece 3 9-2 Simon & Ed Crisford James Doyle 11/2
4 (5) 1¼ Circle Of Fire 3 9-2 Sir Michael Stoute Richard Kingscote 8/1
5 (9) 2¼ Etna Rosso 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle 33/1
6 (1) nk St Vincents Garden 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien William Buick 22/1
7 (6) shd Peking Opera 3 9-2 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 6/1
8 (2) nk Sumo Sam 3 8-13 Paul & Oliver Cole Kevin Stott 66/1
9 (3) 1 Think First 3 9-2 James Tate Neil Callan 125/1
10 (12) 1 Batemans Bay 3 9-2 Ralph Beckett James McDonald 33/1
11 (11) 2½ Hadrianus 3 9-2 Charlie Johnston Andrea Atzeni 33/1
12 (13) 4¾ Nurburgring 3 9-2 Joseph O'Brien Mikey Sheehy 80/1
13 (14) 16 Ndaawi 3 9-2 Andrew Balding David Probert 125/1
14 (10) 7 Steven Seagull 3 9-2 John Ryan Darragh Keenan 400/1

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QUEEN’S VASE WINNERS

YEAR GR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY OWNER AGE/WGT SP

2022 2 ELDAR ELDAROV Roger Varian David Egan KHK Racing Ltd 3-9-02 5/2F
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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