Royal Ascot wrapup: Dream of Dreams takes Diamond Jubilee
After finishing second in 2019 and 2020, Dream of Dreams made it third time lucky Saturday in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes with a tenacious victory on the closing day at Royal Ascot.
An automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint came with the victory.
The Group 1 highlight over six furlongs is always an exciting contest and the latest edition was no exception, with 7-year-old favorite Dream of Dreams fighting off the persistent challenge of Glen Shiel to prevail by a length. Third home Art Power was the one to catch for much of the race, before giving way to the front two.
It was an 82nd Royal Ascot success for Sir Michael Stoute, the meeting’s most successful trainer.
“I am delighted,” Stoute said. “The horse deserves it. The past two years he has been beaten a head finishing fastest of all, so I am really thrilled for him.”
Hardwicke Stakes (G2). Wonderful Tonight gave trainer David Menuisier a first Royal Ascot success when beating the boys in the Hardwicke over 1 1/2 miles.
The 4-year-old filly was making her seasonal debut after winning the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot on her final start in 2020.
Racing keenly early on, jockey William Buick eventually got Wonderful Tonight settled behind the leaders before kicking clear in the straight for an impressive 1 1/2-length success over favorite Broome. Hukum was the same distance again back in third.
Jersey Stakes (G3). Trainer Charlie Appleby and Godolphin enjoyed a one-two finish in the Jersey with Creative Force just getting the better of Naval Crown.
The James Doyle-ridden Creative Force made it four wins from four starts this season in the seven-furlong contest, beating Naval Crown and William Buick by 1 1/4 lengths. Buick would likely have had the difficult choice between the stablemates, and the British betting market could not split them either, with both starting as 5-1 joint-favorites.
Vadream outran her odds of 28-1 by taking third spot, beaten a further three-quarters of a length by the front two.
Chesham Stakes. Point Lonsdale justified strong pre-race support to win the listed Chesham Stakes to open Saturday's program.
Ridden by Ryan Moore, the favorite was made to work hard by The Queen’s horse Reach For The Moon, with the two fighting out quite a battle throughout the final furlong. Point Lonsdale had just enough to prevail, edging out the runner-up by a half-length. Great Max was 3 1/4 lengths farther back in third.
The seven-furlong contest was restricted to 2-year-olds whose dam or sire won over a distance in excess of 9 1/2 furlongs. Point Lonsdale’s sire Australia was a dual-Derby winner for the same connections – Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore.
Wokingham Handicap. In a week of Royal Ascot firsts, it was jockey Shane Kelly and trainer David Evans’s turn, with Rohaan striking in the six-furlong Wokingham Handicap.
The only 3-year-old in the field, the 112-rated Rohaan continued his superb season with an authoritative performance to score by a neck from Fresh.
Queen Elizabeth's Kings Lynn was a well supported favorite but was another near miss for Her Majesty, finishing third, beaten a further half-length. Chiefofchiefs was three-quarters of a length behind the Royal runner in fourth.
Golden Gates Handicap. Oisin Murphy wrapped up the Royal Ascot jockey title with his fifth win of the week, this one on Foxes Tales in the Golden Gates Handicap, a 3-year-old contest over 10 furlongs.
The race was among the six prizes added to the race program in 2020 and one of three newly named contests.
Foxes Tales quickened smartly from the rear of the field to win comfortably and had 2 1/4 lengths in hand over runner-up Visualisation at the line. Irish Legend was a length further back in third.
Queen Alexandra Stakes. The irresistible combination of Moore and Willie Mullins teamed up again for Queen Alexandra Stakes success with Stratum in the meet finale.
Held up off the pace, Stratum came with a powerful run in the closing stages, pulling 3 1/4 lengths clear of runner-up Calling The Wild. Last year’s runner-up The Grand Visir ran well again to finish third.
It was a 66th success at this meeting for Moore, and a Royal Ascot Saturday treble.
Meet titles. Murphy secured his first jockey title at Royal Ascot with five victories, one ahead of Moore, with Frankie Dettori and William Buick both partnering three winners during the meeting.
John and Thady Gosden broke new ground as the first training partnership to take leading-trainer honors. The father and son combination sent out four winners, the same total as Andrew Balding, but took the title by virtue of Reach For The Moon’s second in Saturday’s Chesham Stakes.
Godolphin received the leading-owner award thanks to three victories, including Kemari winning the Queen’s Vase (G2) and Creative Force beating Naval Crown to provide the operation with a one-two in the Jersey Stakes (G3)