Dubai: A second Royal Ascot winner in the week continued the strong big-race season in the UK for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, as American-trained Undrafted sprang a surprise in the featured Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1).
Following Muhaarar’s rousingvictory in the inaugural running of the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup on Friday, Mahsoob, ensured that it would be a memoral Royal meeting for Shaikh Hamdan, by landing the Listed Wolferton Stakes en route to a possible shot at next month’s big race, the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
Paul Hanagan, retained rider to Shaikh Hamdan, was aboard Mahsoob, while his deputy, Dane O’Neill partnered Muhaarar to victory.
Royal Ascot Wins (39):
“It’s been a great week for the team, but tough for me personally up to now,” said Hanagan, now in his fourth year with Shaikh Hamdan. “I’d been hitting the crossbar - and there’d be something wrong with me if I didn’t feel frustrated in picking the wrong one in the Commonwealth Cup.
“But I was delighted for Dane, don’t get me wrong, he works as hard as all of us and deserved it. It’s all a great team effort, which is one of the reasons I took the job, to be involved with such a good team.”
Meanwhile, a vitage ride by Frankie Dettori in the £525,000 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, gifted American handler Wesley Ward with a second success of the week.
The Italian, who is the most successful jockey at the Royal meeting with 51 winners, denied Australia a third win in the race with star spriner Brazen Beau, the mount of Craig Williams.
The two jockeys battled out the final 100 yards but it was Dettori who prized out that little extra from his horse to cross the line 1/2 length clear.
Kevin Ryan’s h Astaire claimed third and Henry Candy’s Music Master fourth.
Ward said: “We had a rough night, my daughter got a touch of the Bell’s palsy so we were in hospital all night.
“This is unreal - it’s really special for my little girl.
“This is the biggest race I’ve ever won, including Breeders’ Cups and everything.”
Jockey Ryan Moore, who has been in the form of his life this season, broke a post-war record with nine wins at Royal Ascot, bettering the eight wins posted by Lester Piggott in 1965 and 1975 and by Pat Eddery in 1989.
