Royal Ascot: Queen & Frankie Dettori denied in two races while Kyprios wins Gold Cup
- Published
Claymore beat the Queen's Reach For The Moon at Royal Ascot
Two horses owned by the Queen were second for Frankie Dettori - who was also third on Stradivarius to winner Kyprios in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
In her Platinum Jubilee Year, the Queen's odds-on favourite Reach For The Moon was beaten by Claymore in the Hampton Court Stakes.
Dettori was also a runner-up on Saga, as Thesis won the Britannia Stakes.
And he had a nightmare passage as Stradivarius was denied a record-equalling fourth Gold Cup.
The 13-8 favourite Kyprios, ridden by Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O'Brien, prevailed from Mojo Star, with Stradivarius third in a thrilling tactical battle.
Stradivarius went widest of all under Dettori and closed late on but could not catch the victor.
"There are younger horses there who are first and second, but I think I just wish we'd been a little handier and not had to go through a wall of horses," said John Gosden, who trains Stradivarius with his son Thady.
"I was a bit surprised after being in the box seat that we dropped back so far."
Asked if he felt it was a race that had got away, he said: "Potentially."
There was further frustration for Dettori when Saga, for the Gosdens, lost by just a head to Thesis, ridden by Moore for Harry and Roger Charlton.
Dettori hoped to provide the Queen, who has been experiencing mobility issues and was not at the course, with her 25th Royal Ascot winner aboard 2-5 favourite Reach For The Moon.
The colt was the Queen's main hope of a victory this week but he was fended off by Adam Kirby on 7-1 chance Claymore, giving trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam a second win of the week.
"It's sad for the Queen, but Claymore has always been a proper horse," said Kirby.
Reflecting on his day, Dettori said: "I can't go back and do it again. There is always tomorrow."
The Queen's third runner of the day, Tactical, was sixth for Moore in the Buckingham Palace Stakes won by the George Boughey-trained Inver Park with Ben Curtis on board.
"I'm disappointed for Her Majesty, like everyone else, that they haven't quite pulled it off," said her bloodstock adviser John Warren. "But you can't be disappointed when the horses run that well."
Kyprios won in front of a bumper crowd on Ladies' Day
Dramatic Gold Cup goes to Kyprios
Kyprios provided an eighth Gold Cup victory for O'Brien, who won the race four times with Yeats from 2006 to 2009.
Dettori had been shadowed and kept inside on the rail by Moore as the race was run under a steady pace.
As Moore led, chased by Mojo Star, Dettori opted to go to the outside and could not catch the leaders.
"It was not the nicest race to ride in," said Moore, who won by half a length from Mojo Star, with three quarters of a length back to Stradivarius.
Dettori said he did not have an ideal passage but suggested his mount would probably not have won anyway.
"I had to take him to the outside which cost me a little bit, but the younger horses had fresher legs. He's been a star and I'm very proud of him," he said.
Dettori was given a two-day ban, to be served at a later date, for overuse of the whip and Moore the same punishment for careless riding after his mount drifted and interfered with Princess Zoe's running.
Shock and controversy in the opener
There was a 50-1 surprise in the Norfolk Stakes when The Ridler survived a stewards' inquiry after drifting to his left to become the race's biggest-priced winner.
Paul Hanagan, who recently lost his job as main jockey for Richard Fahey, landed the contest for the trainer for a second successive year but was given a 10-day ban for careless riding.
Walbank was a length and three quarters back in second, while third-placed Crispy Cat and Brave Nation in fourth were impeded.
"We got a wipeout from the winner; it made the difference. We would have won," said Crispy Cat's jockey Silvestre de Sousa.
Both Walbank and Crispy Cat are owned by Amo Racing, headed by football agent Kia Joorabchian, who also had runner-up Mojo Star in the Gold Cup.
William Buick claimed his third victory of the week as 4-1 favourite Secret State, for trainer Charlie Appleby, held off the fast-finishing Deauville Legend with Israr third in the King George V Stakes.
Magical Lagoon (11-4) prevailed under Shane Foley for Jessica Harrington from Sea Silk Road in the Ribblesdale Stakes.
The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall (second left) was among the spectators on Ladies' Day
What's happening on Friday?
Classic winners Cachet and Mangoustine are poised to clash in the Coronation Stakes, which will also see the unbeaten Inspiral return, while American challenger Spendarella is an interesting contender.
Cachet won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and was a close second to Mangoustine in the French version.
The Queen has a leading contender in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes with Just Fine.