Ascot: 150-1 long shot wins Norfolk; U.S. finishes off the board

Kentucky-bred maiden Valiant Force tied the record for longest-priced winner ever at Royal Ascot when he caused a 150-1 shock Thursday in the Group 2, $140,212 Norfolk Stakes carrying the same post-time odds as 2020 Coventry Stakes (G2) victor Nando Parrado.

U.S. trainer George Weaver, who won the Queen Mary (G2) on Wednesday with Crimson Advocate, finished ninth with No Nay Mets, who started with track odds of 13-2 and carried retiring jockey Frankie Dettori in the five-furlong turf race.

American Rascal, who was bet down to 4-1 off his debut win this spring at Keeneland for U.S. trainer Wesley Ward, finished next to last in the field of 14.

“He broke real well out of there,” his jockey Joel Rosario said, “and they kind of got away a little bit from me. It was his first time here, and it was all a little different for him. We will go on to the next one.”

Ward, a 12-time winner in his first 12 visits to this meet, went 0-for-9 in the last two years at Royal Ascot.

Despite having been beaten in both his previous starts, Valiant Force shot away from his rivals entering the final furlong. The Adrian Murray-trained colt won comfortably by 1 1/4 lengths to give jockey Rossa Ryan his second winner of the week.

It was a first Royal Ascot winner for Murray and Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing, which had hit the board at the meeting eight times before, not least in this corresponding race 12 months ago.

Malc, representing last year’s winning trainer Richard Fahey, was second at odds of 66-1, and 7-4 favorite Elite Status was a further half-length behind in third.

“I can’t believe it,” Murray said. “I fell into racing by accident. A friend of mine got me involved in the flat. It’s magic. We were third here on Tuesday (in the Coventry Stakes), and I wondered if that would ever happen again.

“We knew Valiant Force was a nice horse, and I couldn’t believe the price. He was only beaten less than a length by His Majesty first time out and was 150-1 today. It didn’t make sense. I knew he was much better than that. It’s the stuff of dreams. It’s great for the small man.”

In the separate North America pool, Big Invasion was 119-1 and paid $240.70 and $42.30. Since place betting in Ascot races is the equivalent of a show bet in the U.S., Malc paid $33.70 and Elite Status $2.70. The $2 exacta paid $10,739.20 and the $2 trifecta $50,332.

“To be fair to the lads, they were confident he would run a big race,” said Ryan, who was retained by Amo Racing until last autumn. “If you take away his last run at the Curragh when he was (left) on his own, he’s run a stormer first time out in a listed race, and that’s the most important form.

“He’s bred well. He’s bred to be a sprinter, by Malibu Moon, and if you look at him, he's something else to look at. He was almost the standout in the paddock.

“He jumped well and did everything right. He was just in a rhythm, and when I took a lead off Kevin (Stott on Thunder Blue) outside the two (furlongs), I was always in a rhythm. I could have probably won further if something had come at me.”

The winning time was 59.75 seconds on the straight course rated good to firm. With the victory, Valiant Force qualified for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.

Big Invasion, who finished second in the Jaipur (G1) 12 days ago at Belmont Park, is the last U.S.-based entry at Royal Ascot. Trained by Christophe Clément, he races Saturday at 10:40 a.m. EDT in the $1,274,200 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1) for older horses going six furlongs. With Jim Crowley assigned for the ride, the 4-year-old Declaration of War colt was 20-1 in early betting in the U.K.

Dettori wins for 9th time in Gold Cup

Dettori sparked incredible scenes when he celebrated a ninth Gold Cup (G1) win on his final ride in the 2 1/2-mile race with unexposed 4-year-old Courage Mon Ami (15/2). The John and Thady Gosden-trained winner defied convention by winning in just his fourth career start, having not even contested a group race until Thursday. However, the unbeaten son of Frankel took the sharp rise in class in his stride by coming from well off the pace under Dettori to collar 11-4 favorite Coltrane and score by three-quarters of a length. Coltrane finished 3 3/4 lengths in front of long-time leader and 2021 victor Subjectivist, who battled on bravely for third after being headed early in the straight. It was the 79th Royal Ascot triumph for Dettori.

Warm Heart maintains form cycle in Ribblesdale

Warm Heart (13-2) continued her climb through the ranks with an emphatic, 2 1/2-length success in the 1 1/2-mile Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, making winners again of jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Aidan O’Brien. The daughter of Galileo has won her last three starts following a maiden win at Leopardstown and a listed victory at Newbury. Lumiere Rock stayed on strongly from off the pace to take second just ahead of Bluestocking, who took a while to warm to her task but put in some good, late work. It was the 84th Royal Ascot victory for O’Brien and the 77th for Moore.

Marquand gets 2nd score of day in Hampton Court

Waipiro (7-1) completed a double on the day for jockey Tom Marquand when the duo posted an emphatic victory in the Hampton Court Stakes (G3), a 1 1/4-mile test for 3-year-olds. Having appeared not to stay 1 1/2 miles when sixth in the Epsom Derby (G1), the Ed Walker-trained colt looked a high-class operator cutting back, powering away in the final furlong to score by 2 1/4 lengths. Exoplanet became the second Roger Varian-trained contender of the day to fill the runner-up spot after New Endeavour’s fine effort in defeat in the Britannia. Godolphin runner Bold Act snatched third in a bunched finish for the minor honors.

Charles, Camilla win King George Handicap

Desert Hero (18-1) earned himself a place in the history books as the first Royal Ascot winner for King Charles and Queen Camilla, prevailing in a thrilling finish to the King George V Handicap, a 1 1/2-mile race for 3-year-olds. In a race run at a frenetic early gallop, the William Haggas-trained Desert Hero was delivered late by Marquand to edge out Valiant King by a head with Bertinelli 1 1/4 lengths farther back in third.

Docklands keeps streak alive in Brittania

Docklands confirmed himself to be one of the most progressive horses in training with a third straight win, scoring in the straight-mile Britannia Stakes handicap for trainer Harry Eustace and jockey Hayley Turner. As Docklands made his move in the stand-side group of 3-year-old males, New Endeavour was powering clear on the far side, and the pair had it between them despite being split by the width of the Ascot straight track in the final furlong. Docklands, sent off a 6-1 favorite, edged home by a half-length. New Endeavour (22-1) was only worn down late on and finished second, 2 1/2 lengths clear of Urban Sprawl (50-1) in third with Thunder Ball (66-1) a nose farther back in fourth in the field of 29.

Witch Hunter ends 5-year-drought for Spencer

Jamie Spencer had to wait five years for his 27th Royal Ascot win. The veteran jockey was at his brilliant best on Witch Hunter, who swooped late to win the Buckingham Palace Stakes by three-quarters of a length. Sent off as a 50-1 chance in the seven-furlong handicap for horses 3 and up, Richard Hannon’s charge nearly blew all chance with a slow start. However, he was given an ice-cool ride by Spencer, who sat chilly at the back of the field before making his move going into the final two furlongs. Croupier (7-1) looked like he had made a winning bid for home under William Buick but was run down late on. Northern Express (16-1) was third and Spangled Mac (25-1) fourth.