Trainer Paul Cole liked
the leggy yearling by Mount Nelson so much at the sales he spent 60,000gns to
buy him on spec.
That proved a shrewd piece
of foresight, for the same colt - now named Berkshire - ran out an impressive
winner of today's Chesham Stakes in the colours of a long-standing patron of
Cole's yard, HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah. The Jim Crowley-ridden winner scored by two
and a half lengths from Bunker, with Ihtimal a further one and a half lengths
back in third.
Cole said: "I bought
him on spec at the sales because I liked him so much. Right from the start he
gave me a good feel.
"On his debut run at
Newbury [when third] he was exposed too much and proved too keen - he did too
much. He was drawn one there and 21 today, and we thought the same thing was
going to happen, but he had a good jockey on who managed to get him in behind
and switched off. Even then he could have done with being covered up a bit
longer, but he made the right decision.
"I didn't expect him
to beat what looked a pretty classy field so easily.
"He's a big horse and
his dam, Kinnaird, trained on and got better at three, so I shouldn't think
you'll see much more of him this year. One more run maybe, but I'll speak to
the Sultan."
When asked about his last
Royal Ascot winner - Mr Dinos in the Gold Cup 2003 - Cole quipped: "I'm
too old to remember. But I know I've won this race four times.
"It's fantastic to be
in the winner's enclosure anywhere, but especially at Royal Ascot."
BERKSHIRE
SCORES FOR CROWLEY
Jockey Jim Crowley
predicted a big future for Berkshire after the colt ran away with the Chesham
Stakes in impressive style.
"That was impressive.
I was lucky enough to get the ride on Berkshire at Newbury but he led all the
way that day and did everything back to front. We have always thought he was a
lovely horse and he proved that today.
"I had a really bad
draw to overcome because there were no horses to take me into the race and I
was drawn next to a pair having their first starts. I got there sooner than I
would have liked but he is a serious horse. He is physically imposing and will
only get better with time. I think he'll be a really nice middle-distance horse
next season. He's a serious horse."
HANNON
LOOKS TO THE FUTURE WITH BUNKER
The connections of 11/4
favourite Bunker were full of praise for Chesham Stakes winner Berkshire after
he recorded a two-and-a-half length victory in the opening race at Royal Ascot
this afternoon.
The twice-raced son of
Hurricane Run ran a race full of promise but he couldn't quite master the
winner and trainer Richard Hannon thinks there is much more to come from his
two-year-old colt.
"I don't know if the
draw has made the difference but the winner has won it well," said Hannon.
"He must be a very smart
horse because I know ours is. He'll definitely improve again and he'll be a
very nice horse one day.
"I'm very happy with
the run but maybe this came a bit too soon for him."
Saeed bin Suroor was
another trainer with an eye on the future following the performance of 7/1 shot
Ihtimal, who finished a further length-and-a-half back in third.
"She's a nice filly
and she tries very hard," said bin Suroor.
"She wasn't quite up
there in the last two furlongs but I was very happy with the way she finished
the race.
"She should improve a
lot for this and will be a nice filly for the future."
GOING
AFTER THE FIRST
Jim Crowley, on board the
two-and-a-half length winner Berkshire, said: "It is lovely ground. That
drop of rain has just taken the sting out of it."
Silvestre de Sousa, on
board third Ihtimal, said: "Good to firm."
Kieren Fallon, partner of
Calrissian, said: "The same as yesterday."
Cathy Gannon, partner of
Citizen Kane, said: "Good."
Kevin Manning, on board
Freedom Square, said: "They are just taking the top off."
Joseph O'Brien, jockey of
Friendship, said: "It is nice ground."
Adam Kirby, rider of Khee
Society, said: "It is just on the easy side."
Tom Queally, partner of
Lone Warrior, said: "Lovely - it is the nearest to good that it has
been."
Ryan Moore, partner of
Scargill, said: "It is still good to firm."
Wayne Lordan, rider of
Shepard Gate, said: "Just on the slow side of good."
Jamie Spencer, jockey of
Sir Jack Layden, said: "Good."
William Buick, partner of
Autumn Lily, said: "It is similar to yesterday - but a bit loose."
Graham Lee, jockey of
Bureau, said: "Good to firm."
2.30pm
Chesham Stakes (Listed)
£60,000
total prize fund. For 2yo, sired by a winner of a race over a mile and a
quarter or further (this includes races in excess of nine furlongs and 110
yards and in excess of 1900m), 7f. Weights: colts and geldings 9st 3lb; fillies
8st 12lb. Penalties: a winner of a Listed race 3lb; of a Pattern race 5lb.
Penalty value 1st £34,026.00 2nd £12,900.00 3rd £6,456.00 4th £3,216.00 5th
£1,614.00 6th £810.00.
1.
BERKSHIRE (IRE) (HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah) Paul Cole 2-9-03 Jim Crowley [21] 16/1
2. BUNKER
(IRE) (Sheikh Joann Al Thani, Morecombe, Anderson, Hughes) Richard Hannon
2-9-03 Richard Hughes [7] 11/4 Fav
3.
IHTIMAL (IRE) (Godolphin) Saeed bin Suroor 2-8-12 Silvestre de Sousa [12] 7/1
4.
SOMEWHAT (USA) (Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum) Mark Johnston 2-9-03 Joe
Fanning [3]
5. LONE
WARRIOR (IRE) (W Clifford) David Evans 2-9-03 Tom Queally [18]
6. TINGA
(IRE) (Nurlan Bizakov) Mick Channon 2-8-12 Martin Harley [6]
7. SIR
JACK LAYDEN (Ron Hull, David Brown, Clive Watson) David Brown 2-9-03 Jamie
Spencer [5]
8.
CALRISSIAN (IRE) (Cedars Two) Alan Jarvis 2-9-03 Kieren Fallon [20]
9.
FRIENDSHIP (IRE) (Derrick, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor) Aidan O'Brien IRE 2-9-03
Joseph O'Brien [9]
10.
SHEPHERD GATE (USA) (Stan Moore) Stan Moore 2-9-03 Wayne Lordan [15]
11.
SCARGILL (L Keys) Brian Ellison 2-9-03 Ryan Moore [2]
12.
AUTUMN LILY (USA) (Godolphin) Saeed bin Suroor 2-8-12 William Buick [8]
13.
STREET FORCE (USA) (Saeed Manana) Clive Brittain 2-9-03 James Doyle [13]
14.
BUREAU (IRE) (Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum) Mark Johnston 2-8-12
Graham Lee [17]
15.
MASTER CARPENTER (IRE) (Links Partnership/Cheveley Park Stud) Rod Millman
2-9-03 Andrea Atzeni [10]
16.
FREEDOM SQUARE (IRE) (Jackie Bolger, J P Spain) Jim Bolger IRE 2-9-03 Kevin
Manning [16]
17. KNOW
YOUR NAME (David Lockwood & Fred Lockwood) David Evans 2-9-03 William
Carson [1]
18. KHEE
SOCIETY (W Clifford) David Evans 2-9-03 Adam Kirby [14]
19.
CITIZEN KAINE (IRE) (Chester Racing, J Henderson, I Phillips) Jo Hughes 2-9-03
Cathy Gannon [19]
19 ran
Non-runners: Flying Author (Going), Adeste Fideles (Vet's certificate - Lame)
Time: 1m
28.46s Distances: 2½, 1½, 4, ¾, hd, 1¼, nk, ¾, ½, 1¼, 1, ½, ½, 3½, 1, hd, 1, ns
Breeder:
Newsells Park Stud Breeding: 2 b c Mount Nelson - Kinnaird (IRE) (Dr Devious
(IRE))
Tote Win
£21.80 Places £5.30, £1.80, £3 Exacta £104
Winning
trainer:-NameCole, Paul Frederick Irvine Date of birth: 11/9/41 Trains
at Whatcombe, Wantage, Oxfordshire Date of first licence: 1968 Previous
Occupation: Assistant to Richmond Sturdy & George Todd Classic wins:
(2) St Leger (1990 Snurge); Vodafone Derby (1991 Generous) Major wins
include: Irish Derby (1991 Generous), Dewhurst Stakes (1990 Generous),
Italian Derby (1987 Zaizoom, 1994 Time Star), King George VI and the Queen
Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (1991 Generous), St Leger (1990 Snurge), Irish Oaks
(1990 Knight's Baroness), Italian Oaks (1993 Bright Generation), Queen Mary
Stakes (1996 Dance Parade), Vodafone Nassau Stakes (1991 & 1992 Ruby
Tiger), Premio Legnano (1993 Ruby Tiger), Coventry Stakes (1991 Dilum),
Richmond Stakes (1991 Dilum), Grand Prix de Deauville (1993 Snurge), Irish St
Leger (1990 Ibn Bey, 1995 Strategic Choice), Lincoln Handicap (1997 Kuala
Lipis, 2000 John Ferneley, 2001 Nimello), Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (1996
Putra, 1997 Central Park, 2006 Strategic Prince), Somerville Tattersalls Stakes
(2007 River Proud), Parknasilla Hotal Goffs Million (2007 Luck Money) Other
details: Champion trainer in 1991 Royal Ascot wins: 21 First
Royal Ascot winner: Calibina (June 17, 1977 - Wokingham Stakes) Major
Royal Ascot wins: Berkshire gave him his fourth Chesham Stakes winner,
Wokingham Handicap (1977 Calibina, 1980 Queen's Pride, 1987 Bel Byou), Coventry
Stakes (1991 Dilum, 1994 Sri Pekan, 1998 Red Sea), Prince of Wales's Stakes
(1979 Crimson Beau), Gold Cup (2003 Mr Dinos) Horses in training
(1985-2011): 84; 107; 112; 120; 120 ; 117; 105; 131; 136; 157; 129; 140;
141; 134; 118; 117; 111; 114; 97; 92; 83; 73; 61; 85; 92; 88; 74; Wins (1984-2012):
61; 54; 64; 55; 43; 51; 53; 73; 86; 67; 69; 77; 74; 60; 64; 76; 51; 56; 61; 56;
41; 31; 44; 29; 50; 37; 33; 22; 16 Wins This Year: 11.
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