English/Ire
Crimson advocates her talent with second Royal Ascot win
Crimson Advocate claimed a second success at the Royal meeting when coming with a sweeping run to take out the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
A winner of the opening Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs on this card two years ago for US-based handler George Weaver, Crimson Advocate returned to Ascot for a third bite of the cherry having found life tough in the King Charles III Stakes twelve months back.
Stepped up markedly in trip, the Wathnan Racing-owned filly returned to action with a pleasing second-place finish behind Soprano in the Listed Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes at Kempton prior to scoring in the same class at Goodwood second time out this season.
With connections happy to remain over a mile, John and Thady Gosden's four-year-old was sent off a 13/2 chance to claim the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes in the hands of James Mcdonald, with James Doyle opting to ride fellow Wathnan Racing contender Fallen Angel.
Having been settled at the rear of the field under James McDonald, Crimson Advocate had all six rivals to pass the bell run to turn for home. Last year's winner Running Lion still looked to be travelling with some purpose out in front halfway up the straight, but her run quickly petered out and the complexion of the contest soon changed, with both Cinderalla's Dream and Crimson Advocate starting to make their challenge towards the centre of the track.
Charlie Appleby's former Grade 1 winner looked like throwing down a serious challenge on the approach to the final furlong, but she was quickly joined by Crimson Advocate, who with one sweeping run, soon moved on past under a full-flowing James McDonald to score by a commanding length and a quarter.
Cinderalla's Dream finished back in second for a winless Charlie Appleby, with Fallen Angel back in third, completing a one-three for powerhouse owners Wathnan Racing.
"We knew she would run a big race, although I didn't expect her to go by those three fillies," said John Gosden. "Running Lion won it last year, the second and third are Group 1 fillies. I said to James, 'just settle her'. He did a beautiful job. She was in really great hands.
"At the furlong marker, I thought Running Lion had it – the commentator thought the same too – then suddenly, this filly comes… impressive. Last year, she came in from America and the plan was to run her in the King Charles III. William [Buick] rode her and said, 'John, she was looking for a bend after three furlongs', being an American filly.
"We settled her, gave her a long time off and she ran really well in the Snowdrop, finishing strongly. Rab [Havlin] settled her at Goodwood the other day, got up and won. Full marks to Rab and everyone, and Thady, who have been devoting their time to settling her. She sat in last and blew them away. I am absolutely thrilled. I have to say this one was not much to do with me."
Asked whether the mare will target a Group 1 now, Gosden added: "I haven't thought that far ahead! I thought she would get placed, but I didn't think she would win. But she's done it well and we will have to readjust our sights!"
McDonald, who was winning for the first time this week and is acting as the second-string rider for owners Wathnan Racing, said: "Coming into it, the questions were whether she would relax well enough and if she ran a stiff mile, but she ticked all those boxes. She relaxed and gave me a beautiful ride. She was fantastic.
"She was bubbling underneath me the whole way and, the further the race went, the more she actually gave me. When William [Buick] committed a furlong and a half from home, she was still on the bridle.
"She accelerated so quickly. She obviously has speed over five furlongs and, now she is stretching out over a mile, it bodes well for the future.
On what it feels like to ride winners at the Royal meeting, he added: "It is really special to be here. Royal Ascot is the most amazing carnival. Any opportunity to come to Royal Ascot, you take it with both hands, and it's just a special place to be part of."
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