Qemah bagged a prestigious success in Al Shaqab Racing colours on the second day of the Royal Ascot meeting last week.
On Wednesday, the Gregory Benoist-ridden filly followed up her Coronation Stakes (Group 1) victory from last year with a win in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2). Jean Claude Rouget’s ward is now expected to defend her title in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville.
However, the highlight of the day was the success of Highland Reel in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1). The Coolmore representative won his sixth Group 1, less than three weeks after his win in the Coronation Cup. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned Mekhtaal finished sixth, lacking experience against the more experienced rivals than him.
On Day One of the royal meeting, American sprinter Lady Aurelia was an easy winner of the King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1), one year after her success in the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2). Barney Roy and Ribchester, for the Godolphin silks, won both the two other Group 1s of the day — St James’s Palace Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes.
Day Three saw the tussle for supremacy between Big Orange and Order of St George in the Gold Cup (Group 1). Eventually Big Orange defied Order of St George for the win. Coronet, ridden by Olivier Peslier, imposed herself in the Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2). The filly stayed on a fifth place in the Oaks at Epsom. Bless Him, owned by Qatar Racing, won the Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap). The three-year-old son of Sea the Stars has been improving and is expected to be seen again at the Group level.
Penultimate day of the meeting turned out to be a big one for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The champion Winter, already a winner of the British and Irish Guineas (Group 1), added another trophy to her collection by winning the Coronation Stakes. Winter led a sweep for O’Brien, whose wards Roly Poly and Hydrangea finished second and third respectively. Another O’Brien charge, sprinter Caravaggio, succeeded in the Commonwealth Cup (Group 1).
The closing day of the meeting, Saturday, was marked by the sprint in the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1). The Tin Man, trained by James Fanshawe, won the race in front of Tasleet and Limato, the favourite. The one horse that left a lasting impression the day is two-year-old September, who won the Chesham Stakes (L) for Coolmore. She is already being considered as one of the top favourites for the 2018 Guineas and Oaks.
Jockey Gregory Benoist (right) rides Al Shaqab Racing’s Qemah to victory in the Duke of Cambridge (Group 2) at Ascot on Wednesday. Right: James Doyle celebrates winning the Gold Cup (Group 1) on Big Orange at Ascot Racecourse on Thursday. (Reuters)
