Sport
Umm Qarn’s Charm Spirit wins Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot
Umm Qarn’s Charm Spirit wins Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot
Charm Spirit (centre, Olivier Peslier) beats Night Of Thunder (right), Toormore (2nd left) and Tullius (top) in The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Ascot yesterday. Picture: Steven Cargill/Racingfotos.
Agencies/London
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned Charm Spirit clinched the QIPCO sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot yesterday. This was the third consecutive Group I victory for Charm Spirit, which ran I colours of Umm Qarn. |
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes marks the climax of the European season for the top milers, and Charm Spirit’s win marks him as the best three-year European horse over this distance, in the absence of Kingman.
He had a good run, never too far off the leader. When he went to make his move, he met with some interference, but in the end found the gap, and fought on to win from Night of Thunder; the winner of this year’s Newmarket 2000 Guineas, which has proved to have been a particularly strong edition. Charm Spirit was ridden by Olivier Peslier, who this week signed a contract for HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al -Thani.
Top Notch Tonto and Custom Cut traded blows at the front of the field in the early stages but the eye was drawn to Charm Spirit and Night Of Thunder, who both travelled like they were in a different class to their rivals.
Entering the final two furlongs, Hughes switched Night Of Thunder out towards the centre of the track in an attempt to find a passage through but had his route blocked by Tullius, who went through to lead.
His time in front was brief, however, as Charm Spirit and jockey Olivier Peslier surged to the lead with Night Of Thunder, who was now on the stands’ rail and in the clear, chasing after him.
Night Of Thunder was clawing back Charm Spirit but nowhere near fast enough and could only finish second with stablemate Toormore back to form in third.
“It’s great, it’s wonderful!" declared trainer Freddy Head. "He is a fantastic horse! He is a real fighter, he has speed and stamina.
"Olivier Peslier rode a great race, even though he was forced to pull out when the others came to him. He was bounced around everywhere. He is a very, very good horse, a champion! He is definitely one of the best horses I have trained.”