BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE.

WHAT is the valuation on eBay of a Royal Ascot winner's tooth? There must be a temptation to find out, but any such thoughts were far removed from Richard Hannon's mind after Big Audio's shock win in the Chesham Stakes gave the trainer his third success at the meeting.

As Big Audio returned to the winner's enclosure after holding off Emperor Claudius by a short head to earn a 33-1 quote from the sponsors for the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas, Hannon noticed the colt shaking his head. The trainer reached into Big Audio's mouth and pulled out the tooth, which had been hanging loose.

"He must have given it a knock when catching his head on the stalls," said Hannon. "Fortunately, it's a baby tooth and he'll soon grow a replacement." He added: "We've always regarded him as a nice type, but I wasn't confident because I feared the ground may be too firm." Perhaps due to his loose tooth,

Big Audio drifted left in the final ten strides.

Richard Hughes had reckoned the early pace, forced by US visitor Honor In Peace, was far too fierce and bided his time.

"We were 15 lengths off the leader at halfway," he said. "I had to get quite serious with him.

He's pretty raw, but he's a horse with a future." Winning owner Michael Pescod was missing as he was making lastminute arrangements for a housewarming party today in Dorset.

The runner-up, who was in front a stride after the line and is 20-1 for the 2,000 Guineas with Boylesports, looked the hard-luck story of the Listed race.

Jockey Ryan Moore said: "The American horse came across us at the start and I had to take a pull." Rodney Masters

Result Chesham Stakes 1 Big Audio ........ 22- 1 2 Emperor Claudius ........................ 4- 1jf 3 Party Doctor .. 12- 1 Owner Michael Pescod Trainer Richard Hannon Jockey Richard Hughes Groom Ravinder Sing Breeder Stephen Sullivan Distances sh- hd, 1 1 / 2 l

CAPTION(S):

Richard Hughes drives Big Audio to victory at 22-1