Royal Ascot Recap, Day 3
By Michaela Moricova
The G1 Gold Cup over two miles and four furlongs headlines the third day of Royal Ascot where Frankie Dettori worked his magic once again and secured his ninth victory in the race. We cover his success with COURAGE MON AMI in a separate article while I focus here on some G2s and a Class 2 King George V Stakes. This race isn’t that special, indeed, but Charles III has achieved his first Royal Ascot triumph as an owner here.
150/1 Upset Came with Valiant Force
The initial race on Thursday’s card was open to two-year-olds who clashed over a distance of five furlongs in the G2 Norfolk Stakes. It attracted several interesting runners, including an effortless Listed winner Elite Status (Lee) and Wesley Ward’s American Rascal (Rosario); however, the ranks of outsiders generated a winner this time. VALIANT FORCE jumped out of the gates at 150/1 as the Adrian Murray trained bay failed to shine at the G3 level last time out. He showed some talent upon his debut, but then the son of Malibu Moon couldn’t draw on that performance, resulting in Valiant Force winning the Norfolk Stakes as the biggest outsider in the field. Under Rossa Ryan, he had a great start, then settled in second in a group racing at the far side, and once the leader weakened, Valiant Force was quick to seize the first place. Elite Force tried to catch him, but honestly, this race was only about Valiant Force and his easy victory in 59.75s, leaving second Malc (Orr) behind by a length and ¼. Elite Force was third, while American Rascal was well beaten in 13th, having not a single bright moment.
Warm Heart in the Right Place in the Ribblesdale
Ryan Moore celebrated another Graded victory at this Royal Ascot thanks to WARM HEART, who has crowned her progress with a G2 success in the Ribblesdale Stakes. The Aidan O’Brien trained bay belonged among fancied three-year-old fillies covering the distance of a mile and a half, and Ryan Moore prepared her a flawless race. She settled behind the leaders, rested throughout, and when the jockey asked her to pick up, she did so willingly. After winning a maiden and a Listed, Warm Heart scored the G2 event by two and half a length to second Lumiere Rock (McDonald), with Bluestocking (Dettori) finishing third. Warm Heart crossed the wire in 2m 30.41s and surely made her team proud, unlike the favorite Al Asifah (Crowley) who probably made her team scratching their heads.
This filly entered the race with big expectations as she impressively won her maiden in May and then destroyed the competition in a Listed race. That was only eleven days ago; however, John & Thady Gosden agreed on sending her out again during Royal Ascot. However, Al Asifah didn’t fire in the final stretch and probably failed to stay the distance.
Desert Hero the King’s First Winner at Royal Ascot
Although Charles III isn’t as devoted horse racing fan as his mother was, he’s been present at the meeting, participated in the festivities, and also achieved his very first Royal Ascot victory as an owner. The King George V Handicap welcomed a field of 19 three-year-olds, including chestnut DESERT HERO, who prevailed over Valiant King in an eye-catching fight. The son of Sea The Stars defied the odds of 18/1 here and scored the Class 2 race by a head in 2m 29.56s. Trainer William Haggas saddled the chestnut for Tom Marquand, who then added a second victory of the day with WAIPIRO when securing the G3 Hampton Court Stakes for three-year-olds.
Don’t miss Frankie’s Fanfare, Part 11: Dettori Makes His Final Royal Ascot a Winning One
