Dubai: Six years after Black Caviar exploded out of the starting stars to blazing a winning trail in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the showpiece race on the final day at Royal Ascot, another speedball from Down Under claimed the spoils at Saturday’s glorious finale.
Merchant Navy, a four-race winner for Aaron Purcell in Australia, was specifically sent to Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle Stables in Ireland to target the Diamond Jubilee.
And what a successful mission it proved to be as the pre-race favourite, Godolphin’s Harry Angel, blew his chances when playing up at the gates and never quite got into the race.
But victory did not come easy with big-race Belgian jockey, Christopher riding a blinder aboard American raider City Light, only to be beaten by a short-head by Merchant Navy at the line.
Moore told ITV Racing: “He’s a remarkable horse and he’s beat a high-class field today.
“I thought he would win easier, but the American horse leaned into me, we got very tight and he just lost his rhythm for a second.
“I’m delighted with him and it’s a pleasure to ride these sort of horses.”
Earlier in the afternoon Sir Michael Stoute’s Crystal Ocean earned himself a vote for two of the season’s biggest races, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Ascot, July 28) and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (October 7), when winning the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes in emphatic fashion.
The winner was supplying Royal Ascot’s most successful trainer with a 11th win in the mile and four furlong contest which dates back to 1879.
Crystal Ocean was cut to 9/4 favourite for the King George and 10/1 for the Arc by British bookmakers Sky Bet.
Racing PR Manager Michael Shinners said in Sportinglife.com: “It looked a straightforward task for Crystal Ocean but it was a taking performance and he looks set to make a big impact in the Group One races over a mile-and-a-half from now on.”
Stoute said: “He’s really continued to progress with his racing. He’s got a lovely temperament and he’s a joy to train.
“It was straightforward. He is so uncomplicated you can do what you like with him. He is a relaxed horse. It is so far, so good.
“We will take him home and look at him for a little while, but I expect that (King George) is likely. We will take it step by step. I think we will get brave now.”
Soldier’s Castle gifted trainer Archie Watson a maiden Royal Ascot success when landing the won the Windsor Castle Stakes under a strong ride by Danny Tudhope.
The trainer said: “This is only our second year training and our second year with runners here. After Nate’s run I thought I might have to wait a bit longer than an hour for that first winner!
“This horse means a lot to us. The owners have all put a lot of faith in me as a second-season trainer and sent me a lot of kit. I’m just delighted that I can repay their faith.
“Danny is a world-class jockey and I’m very lucky to have him ride my horses. It means a lot to the whole team.”
