IT WOULDN’T BE Royal Ascot without a shock Frankie Dettori winner, would it?
Partnering the Godolphin-owned Rewilding in this afternoon’s Grade One feature, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the iconic Italian sprang a major upset to overturn Aidan O’Brien’s Australian superstar So You Think, sent off the red-hot favourite at 4/11.
All of the talk at the Berkshire racecourse this afternoon centred on Ballydoyle’s antipodean acquisition, a five-time Group One winner Down Under and unbeaten in his two starts on European soil to date. As the horses turned for home and jockey Ryan Moore guided him into a three-length lead down the home straight, it seemed certain that the bookies’ worst fears would soon be realised.
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It was Dettori’s mount, however, who had the quicker turn of foot over the final furlongs, catching the favourite 50 yards short of the finishing post and holding on to win by a neck at odds of 17/2.
66/1 shot Sri Putra pipped French raider Planteur for the third place.
Struggling to conceal his disappointment after the race, O’Brien shouldered most of the blame for the defeat, hinting at a possible next outing in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown for So You Think.
“I will take responsibility for this personally,” O’Brien said.
“After he won his first two races so easily I had gone easy on him. It was a big step up on his last two races. He ran keen for the first two furlongs with Ryan and it was a strong-run race. He went and won his race but just got very tired in the last half a furlong.”
I think it was trainer error, I didn’t have him fit enough for this kind of race and he’s given a good blow afterwards. I would think there’s improvement to come.
A delighted Dettori paid tribute to both horses and their connections, describing the race as a joy to be a part of and an excellent advertisement for the sport.
“I have to say the second never gave up. It was a tremendous gallop with two great horses. When I got past him it was sheer joy. It was sheer joy to be in the race.
“I’m delighted for Rewilding as he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He’s a very good horse and he showed his true colours today.”
They are two great teams [Ballydoyle and Godolphin] and we put our life and soul into the job and into the sport.
This is what we are here for – to ride these kind of finishes in great races.
Think again: Dettori and Rewilding land Ascot upset
IT WOULDN’T BE Royal Ascot without a shock Frankie Dettori winner, would it?
Partnering the Godolphin-owned Rewilding in this afternoon’s Grade One feature, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the iconic Italian sprang a major upset to overturn Aidan O’Brien’s Australian superstar So You Think, sent off the red-hot favourite at 4/11.
All of the talk at the Berkshire racecourse this afternoon centred on Ballydoyle’s antipodean acquisition, a five-time Group One winner Down Under and unbeaten in his two starts on European soil to date. As the horses turned for home and jockey Ryan Moore guided him into a three-length lead down the home straight, it seemed certain that the bookies’ worst fears would soon be realised.
It was Dettori’s mount, however, who had the quicker turn of foot over the final furlongs, catching the favourite 50 yards short of the finishing post and holding on to win by a neck at odds of 17/2.
66/1 shot Sri Putra pipped French raider Planteur for the third place.
Struggling to conceal his disappointment after the race, O’Brien shouldered most of the blame for the defeat, hinting at a possible next outing in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown for So You Think.
“I will take responsibility for this personally,” O’Brien said.
“After he won his first two races so easily I had gone easy on him. It was a big step up on his last two races. He ran keen for the first two furlongs with Ryan and it was a strong-run race. He went and won his race but just got very tired in the last half a furlong.”
A delighted Dettori paid tribute to both horses and their connections, describing the race as a joy to be a part of and an excellent advertisement for the sport.
“I have to say the second never gave up. It was a tremendous gallop with two great horses. When I got past him it was sheer joy. It was sheer joy to be in the race.
“I’m delighted for Rewilding as he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. He’s a very good horse and he showed his true colours today.”
Read: Mark Your Card: Royal Ascot Day Two >
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Frankie Dettori Godolphin Pipped Prince of Wales's Stakes Rewilding Royal Ascot So You Think