Free Eagle soars to Prince of Wales’s success at Royal Ascot

Dermot Weld has had winners in big races all over the world, from America to Australia and from Cheltenham to Galway, but few have given him greater pleasure than guiding Free Eagle to victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The talented but fragile colt has had so many issues, seeing his racing career restricted to just four races in two years before he graced the Berkshire track in the successful pursuit of Group One honours.

Weld, who has shown unlimited patience with thoroughbreds throughout an illustrious training career that has seen him conquer the globe, always kept the faith and let the horse do his talking on the track.

The 5-2 favourite had been forced to miss his intended reappearance at the Curragh last month because of a head cold and Weld admitted that, in an ideal world, the race came two weeks too soon.

But he knew he had the horse to deliver, even if he was slightly underdone. And with his star now firing on all cylinders, Weld is plotting a future that could take in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

It was, however, a close-run thing as The Grey Gatsby finished to such effect that he was just a short head behind Pat Smullen’s mount at the line in a pulsating renewal.

“This horse has bags of courage and is a hard horse to beat,” said Weld.

“He had a stress fracture of the tibia last year and had to miss all the Classics. We got him back for the Champion Stakes here and that was run on heavy ground.

“The plan was to start him in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, but he got a bad head cold which delayed his comeback and his work.

“Fitness was my biggest concern and I had him as good as I could have with the limited preparation he’d had.

“You can’t force fitness and ideally the race came two weeks too soon, but I had huge confidence in this horse’s ability. It was a calculated risk and a personal triumph for me.

“Today was the day, but we’ve been lucky with races like the Irish Champion Stakes and I’ve always thought the Arc would be his long-term objective.

“Pat gave him his usual brilliant ride and seized the opportunity.”

Smullen was full of praise for the trainer, saying: “I’m relieved because I’ve been saying for the last two years how good this horse is and thankfully now he’s starting to show it.

“While he has got plenty of pace, I think he’ll improve going further. He thrived on the ground and it’s played to his strengths.

“There’s the Irish Champion Stakes, but the race I would love to win with him would be the Arc.

“I can’t tell you how good a training performance this is. There was nothing easy about getting him here today and if truth be known, I didn’t think he was going to show his true ability today because it’s been an interrupted preparation.

“I don’t think I’ve gotten as much pleasure from riding a winner.”

Kevin Ryan, trainer of The Grey Gatsby, said: "I knew we had him in great shape, he's got a long run with a lot of races coming up now, I was quietly confident he'd put up a big show.

“Fair dos to the winner, it was a great training performance but I’m not disappointed, I know the horse is back to his best and we can look forward.

“He’s in the Eclipse and he’s in the King George over a mile and a half. We’ll let the dust settle and see how the horse comes home.”

John Gosden said of Western Hymn, who finished third: “It was a great run, a fabulous race and take nothing away from the first two.

“We probably wish we had a bit more pace in the race and that is where California Chrome might have helped us, but I’m over the moon.”

Frankie Dettori claimed his 50th winner at Royal Ascot as Osaila got up late in the Sandringham Handicap.

The popular Italian settled Richard Hannon’s well supported 13-2 chance in the middle of the pack for much of the straight mile journey and she was still on the bridle entering the last two furlongs.

Dettori tried to weave a passage between the pacesetting Sulaalaat and 2-1 favourite Always Smile soon after, but the door was swiftly shut in his face as the latter started to edge left.

Always Smile still looked likely to deliver at that stage, but her waywardness got progressively worse in the final furlong, giving Osaila a chance and they flashed by the post almost as one.

After a brief wait, the judge called Osaila the winner by a nose from the market leader, who surely would have won had she charted a straight course.

The Queen’s Touchline just beat Jellicle Ball to third spot.

Dettori said: “I feel great, especially as it is for my boss (Sheikh Joaan, Al Shaqab Racing) and he’s here.

“This was one of my best rides this week and it came off

“Sheikh Joaan saved my career and I’m very grateful, Ascot is my place and I love it.

“I think she got too hot in the Guineas, perhaps we overshot the target but it doesn’t matter now.

“I was quite happy this morning, but then everything went wrong, Euro Charline wouldn’t go in the stalls and I felt it was going to be one of those days.

“It’s all OK now, I’ve got it off my back.

“James (Doyle, on Always Smile) tried to get first run on me, but she stuck to it really well.

“Fifty is a big number, to join the great like Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery means a lot.

“I was getting a bit worried because I had some good rides today, but now I’ve done it.”

Hannon said: “We always thought she was very good but she didn’t run her race in the Guineas.

“We’ve got her back now, she put on a lot of weight, she travelled really well and is obviously a very good filly.

“She’s very brave and she battled well as the other filly had gone clear.

“She’s seen out the mile really well but she does have a lot of speed which always worries me when we ask her to go a mile.

“Royal Ascot winners are worth 10 of any other winners.

“She’s won two Group Threes and a Listed race now and there’s no question she’ll go back there (Group One level).”

Ryan Moore too showed why he is the man for the main occasion as he continued his flying start to Royal Ascot by gaining a big-race double.

Fresh from riding a treble on the opening day of the meeting, Moore struck with contrasting victories.

Acapulco turned in an electrifying performance to ensure one prize would be heading back across the Atlantic when providing Wesley Ward with a second victory in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Looking twice the size of many of her rivals in the parade ring the well-supported 5-2 favourite put her rivals firmly in the shade with a blistering display of speed in the five-furlong test, landing some hefty bets in the process

As the field were taken along on the far side by stable companion of the winner Bruised Orange after making a lightning exit from stall 10, Moore was content to track the pace on the once-raced daughter of Scat Daddy on the opposite side.

Once the button was pushed by Moore two furlongs out the race was over within a matter of strides, as although Easton Angel set off in pursuit it was to little avail.

Acapulco crossed the line a length and half to the good of the gallant Michael Dods-trained runner, with the previously unbeaten Besharah, trained by William Haggas, back in third.

Betfred introduced the two-year-old as 3-1 chance for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Ward said: “She’s a sweetheart, what a lovely filly, she really proved herself today.

“We went over all the horses at the sales and I pointed out to Mr Tabor which ones I liked and thankfully we got the right one.

“It’s a huge relief to get a winner at the meeting, it’s just amazing.

“I hope to inspire more Americans to come over and have a go as we’ve some really fast two-year-olds that come out early.

“It’s such a privilege and hopefully we’ll see some of the bigger trainers with better pedigrees come over.

“I was very disappointed with her first run and I did something very unconventional, I let her breeze seven days afterwards but it was the most phenomenal breeze on grass I’ve ever seen and thanks go to Keeneland for allowing me to do that.

“I’ll talk with the owners and see what they wish to do, but she has a big future on turf.”

As for the runner-up a trip to Newbury for the Weatherbys Super Sprint could be next up.

Dods said: “She’s in the Super Sprint, she’s in sales races at York and Doncaster.

“I think a bit easier ground would suit this filly, she got away with it today. The ground is quick and she’s run her heart out.

“This is the first real race she’s had. She didn’t have one at Musselburgh and Beverley. She had to knuckle down today, but she’s been beaten by a serious racehorse.”

Gm Hopkins completed the double for Moore when finishing with a late flourish to take an incident-packed Royal Hunt Cup.

While the win was another in the long list of victories for both Moore and winning trainer John Gosden, it provided owner Robin Geffen with his first ever success at Ascot.

Burying the 8-1 shot in the middle of the pack, Moore burst through with the four-year-old inside the final furlong to match the move made by Temptress and James Doyle.

As the pair fought it out there was trouble in behind as Spark Plug, who was still in with a chance, appeared to stumble around half a furlong out, throwing Jimmy Fortune to the floor. Luckily all involved returned to their feet.

With the line fast approaching it was to be Gm Hopkins who was to get the verdict by passing the post a neck to the good of Temptress, with Chil The Kite back in third.

Gosden said: “We were worried the pace wasn’t on our side, but it turned out it was.

“We got him covered up, but Ryan said he got there too soon as I told him to get there later.

“He was a bit unlucky at Newbury the other day, but he ran a super race and there’s nothing like coming into these races in good form.

“He went up 6lb for that, but to win these big handicaps now you don’t try to be clever with the weights as you just don’t get into the race.

“I think we’ll go to France for a lovely Listed race and plan a lunch!”

As for the winning owner it was clear just how much the victory meant to him.

Geffen said: “The horses have been brilliant but I have the best trainer in the world, there’s no doubt about that.

“Today has been amazing, to come third in a Group One (Western Hymn) and then win the Royal Hunt Cup, I just hope we’re still doing this in 25 years.

“I must have sponsored more races than I have won, it is just fantastic. He was given a brilliant ride by Ryan in a very tough race ”