Moore sets new mark with ninth Royal Ascot winner

Godolphin’s Lucida just edged out in Coronation Stakes race

Aloft, ridden by Ryan Moore, wins the Queen’s Vase race at Royal Ascot. — Reuters

Dubai — Ryan Moore broke the modern-day record for the most number of wins during Royal Ascot week by piloting Aloft to victory in the Queen’s Vase on Friday afternoon. Having already had two trebles and a double over the previous three days, Moore was first past the post for the ninth time aboard Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old bay colt to better the prior marker of eight set by Lester Piggott (in 1965 and 1975) and Pat Eddery (in 1989).

Saeed bin Suroor’s Future Empire was a length off Moore’s mount in third and they were split by the second-placed Irish raider Tommy Docc. Godolphin’s promising filly Lucida was just edged out in a tight Group One Coronation Stakes on the penultimate day of racing at this prestigious meeting.

The Irish bay three-year-old had to settle for the third step on the podium behind the runner-up Found and French winner Ervedya following an almost blanket finish at the line. Indeed, little more than half-a-length separated the three vying for supremacy up at the front with that narrow distance separating Lucida from Found, who — in turn — was a neck adrift of Ervedya in the final reckoning. Lucida’s two other stable-mates representing the royal blue silks, Sperry and Local Time, finished sixth and eighth respectively over the mile-long trip in this fourth day’s feature race. There was a distinctly GCC-orientated flavour to the result in the next outing — the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes — as Arab Dawn led in Ajman Bridge to lock out the top two positions.

However, Godolphin’s two runners fared less well; Famous Kid coming sixth and Gold Trail eighth among the 17-strong field over the mile and four furlong distance.

The Group One Commonwealth Cup was decided in fine style by Muhaarar, with the Charlie Hills-trained colt storming away to a three-and-three-quarter length winning margin at the finish.

Dane O’Neill’s mount sailed home well clear of Henry Candy’s runner-up Limato and Anthem Alexander for Ed Lynam and Hills’ other challenger Salt Island were split by a short head in third and fourth some three-quarter-of-a-length behind Candy’s second-placed charge. Meanwhile, Irish raider Balios prevailed in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes with a length-and-a-quarter success over the mile and four furlong trip.

Piloted by Jamie Spencer and trained by David Simcock, the chestnut colt made some real headway late on to lead inside the final furlong and he was ultimately ridden out to triumph in convincing fashion. James Doyle’s ride Mr Singh kept on well behind Balios to fill the runner-up berth for trainer John Gosden, while the two O’Brien-trained runners — Father Christmas and Ol’ Man River — came in third and fourth for his son Joseph and an in-form Moore respectively.

The pre-race favourite Stravagante, with Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori on board for Sir Michael Stoute, never made any impression having not travelled freely at all and was eventually pulled up, dismounted and returned lame.

Earlier in the day, champion jockey Richard Hughes ended a barren run of results and rides this week with victory aboard Illuminate in the Albany Stakes.

In a six-furlong, Group Three contest led by Laxfield Road initially and then Elegant Supermodel, the soon-to-retire rider thrust his mount to the front of affairs alongside the equally fast-finishing Ashadihan inside the final 100 yards. Hughes wasn’t to be denied either as he chalked up his 30th Royal Ascot winner overall with trainer Richard Hannon’s two-year-old filly.

Ashidihan was a length-and-a-half further back in second spot, with the aforementioned and staying-on Elegant Supermodel pipped at the post by a short head for third.

alex@khaleejtimes.com