Royal Ascot / Andrew Hughes / 20 June 2009 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Andrew Hughes looks back at five fabulous days of racing at Ascot where Yeats starred in winning his fourth Gold Cup. Honourable mentions go to Richard Hills, Ghanaati, Canford Cliffs and Jealous Again.

Once upon a time, the redoubtable Queen Anne ordered her coachman to stop her carriage on the way across an unremarkable stretch of Berkshire heath-land. After stretching her formidable calf muscles, the statuesque monarch declared that this would be a splendid place to hold a race meeting.

Nearly three hundred years later, the racing world has just concluded its annual five day tribute to her foresight. Like the monarchy itself, Royal Ascot is gaudy, expensive and probably goes on a little too long. But we wouldn't change it for anything. For the most part, the 2009 edition has been a meteorologically favoured Royal meeting. The sun has gleamed from a thousand top hats and there have been many memorable acts played out on the lush turf of this famous course.

First amongst the many highlights has to be the crowning of Yeats. His historic fourth Gold Cup was a throat-tighteningly tense affair. After travelling smoothly around this course that he knows so well, the veteran scorched away in the straight and then hung on. For a second or two it looked like Patkai might reel him in. But the danger soon passed. Like Best Mate's three Cheltenham Gold Cups, it is an achievement set in solid granite that will forever stand tribute to a remarkable animal and a masterful piece of training.

The Gold Cup was all about the victor, but the St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day will linger in the memory for the thrilling duel that was fought all the way up the straight. Sent clear off the bend, it seemed that Mastercraftsman had been given the perfectly timed race by Johnny Murtagh. But the challengers came inexorably. First Lord Shanakill ranged up and was beaten off. Then Delegator surged alongside and moved into what seemed to be a decisive lead. Had Mastercraftsman anything left? He had. Like another great winner of this race, Giant's Causeway, he exerted himself once more, wrestled back the lead and held on for a memorable win.

There were other, equally impressive displays. Ghanaati could not have been more dominant in Friday's Coronation Cup, thanks in no small part to the patience and judgement of pace shown by jockey Richard Hills. And on the opening day, Canford Cliffs took the Coventry Stakes with a typically stylish ride from Richard Hughes. The Hannon trained colt was swiftly away, skipping on keenly, but Hughes settled him well and, sitting motionless, judged the right moment to set the youngster alight again, discovering yet further reserves of energy to win fluently and easily.

Doubts about Canford Cliffs being able to get a mile next year were already being voiced, despite the salutary lesson handed out by another Hannon inmate in the opening race of the meeting, the Queen Mary. Under another confident Hughes ride, Paco Boy weaved and steered a clear path through the field and eased right away, no doubt causing consternation at Racing Post Towers where one of their tipsters had been vehemently and publically of the opinion that the horse did not stay the distance.

Royal Ascot tempts many foreign raiders and the most impressive was the American filly, Jealous Again. She broke from the stalls in Wednesday's Queen Mary as though stung by a bee and then kept going and going and going some more for jockey John Velazquez. Of course, American speed doesn't always carry the day. In Thursday's Norfolk Stakes earlier that day, Yogaroo blazed a similar trail before the tank emptied and he veered dramatically left, cannoning into Monsieur Chevalier who in turn knocked eventual winner Radiohead out of stride. But the Brian Meehan colt wasn't about to let that stop him and he picked up for Jamie Spencer to scoot home on the rail in what was the most eventful finish of the meeting.

As ever at Ascot, many others caught the eye as worth noting for the future. For what it's worth, I was taken with the sharp and sprightly filly Anglezarke in the Kings Stand Stakes; I scribbled down the name of Alfathaa, the Nayef colt who had disappointed as a three year old but ran well in the Royal Hunt Cup and I took a shine to Chachamaidee, the Henry Cecil filly who showed pace to burn in the Albany.