Bayside Boy stormed home under Tom Marquand to cause a 33/1 upset in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO), providing his trainer Roger Varian with a first success in the mile showpiece.
Galvanised by blinkers, on for the second time after a confidence-boosting success in a Sandown Listed contest last time, Bayside Boy looked out of his ground in a steadily run affair but kicked in the turbos from the two-furlong pole and eventually won by a length-and-a-quarter going away.
Modern Games, a G1 scorer in Canada last time out, coped with the slower conditions to finish a creditable second, with the front-running Jadoomi third. The red-hot 11/10 favourite Inspiral could never land a blow after fluffing the start.
Varian said: “We thought Bayside Boy was a lively outsider. I’m not going to say I thought we would win because he would need to step up massively.
“However, he did have very good juvenile form. He won the Champagne Stakes, was third in the Dewhurst and we had high hopes for him this season. He didn’t enjoy the firm ground in the summer.
“I am delighted for the owners and the team at Ballylinch Stud. They have been very patient with him. He won nicely last time at Sandown, which was a nice confidence-boosting win for the horse.
“I am delighted with him today. He showed a great turn of foot. We’ll enjoy this moment. I hope he is a horse who will still be with us next year. I’m not sure what’s next, but we’ll enjoy today.”
Marquand said: “I thought I had a few really good rides today. I thought Bayside Boy was one who might run a nice race and finish in the places. However, to come away with a winner was great.
“It was very kind of the team to let me on board. It’s hard to come across Group One spares and this was one of them.
“I have a feeling it’s my first win for Roger Varian. I’m very fortunate and it was very kind of Richard Ryan to have me aboard.
“He is a horse who has a lot of ability. He has obviously been tricky to find the key to. However, he has shown the ability before. The soft ground has helped there and, with the blinkers on, it has all come together. He showed a pretty exceptional turn of foot.”
Charlie Appleby said of Modern Games: “Will [Buick] just said he as tough as teak but couldn’t get his feet out of the ground unfortunately. He said that if the winner had come close to us, it would have been a different race again. It is the first time he has encountered ground that soft, but he’s run a very creditable race and he’ll go to the Breeders’ Cup now. He’s handled the conditions, it’s just not there to suit him. As we know, in Keeneland he might get the same.”
Jadoomi’s co-trainer Ed Crisford said: “We are absolutely delighted with him. It can be a hard place to lead, but he popped out of the stalls and there wasn’t any pace on, so James [Doyle] said he was happy in front. Really, the winner came out of nowhere, but we’ve ran a cracking race and couldn’t be happier. At the one-pole, I thought the race was ours, but Bayside Boy was just finishing too quick.
“I think Keeneland will be the obvious place to go – coming round a bend might just play to his strengths and be the next step. He wants cut in the ground, that’s the key. He has won two Group Two races and had to find five or six pounds to be competitive with the top two in the betting, and he has definitely improved again. He’s a lightly-raced four-year-old and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t improve again.”
Dettori said of Inspiral: “I went into the stalls second last. I was barely in there 10 seconds. The gates opened and she didn’t want to come out. It was one of those cigar moments.
“The whole field went and I found myself last on a filly who needs cover. They went slow, I tried to creep into the race, but the race was done at the start. I don’t know why she didn’t want to come out, it’s the first time she has done it. I’m playing catch-up then.
“The draw came out and on the outside of the field there was a problem. With a small field and no pace, that was another problem. Inspiral has won two Group Ones and sometimes horses are not machines and sometimes they underperform. That has left a sour taste.”
3.20pm Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (Group 1)
1 Bayside Boy (Teme Valley & Ballylinch Stud) Roger Varian 3-9-03 Tom Marquand 33/1
2 Modern Games (Godolphin) Charlie Appleby 3-9-03 William Buick 4/1
3 Jadoomi (Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum) Simon & Ed Crisford 4-9-06 James Doyle 9/1
9 ran 11/10F Inspiral (6th)
Roger Varian – 3rd winner on QIPCO British Champions Day
Tom Marquand – 3rd winner on QIPCO British Champions Day
To access sectional times, go to: https://bcd2022.racenewslive.co.uk/sectional-times/
Racenews Press Release
Photo: Bayside Boy wins the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Megan Ridgwell)
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