Horse Racing: Masterpiece brushes aside rivals to take place at top table.
Byline: Jon Lees reportsJAMIE SPENCER'S protestations that interference had cost him victory on Court Masterpiece in the Queen Anne Stakes were not universally accepted, notably in the Royal Ascot stewards' room.
Yet some justice was delivered, if not to the suspended champion jockey, when his partner found compensation at an equally illustrious level by winning the Sussex Stakes.
Although severely impeded by the hanging Ad Valorem at the royal meeting, Court Masterpiece had been ultimately beaten by too emphatic a margin for the result to be changed, but there was no hard-luck story yesterday as the Ed Dunlop-trained six-year-old became the oldest winner of the Group 1 contest for 23 years.
The one-time handicapper Court Masterpiece has come late to the top table, landing his first Group 1 prize over 7f in France last autumn.
Most at home at Goodwood, where he had enjoyed three previous wins, he was the main beneficiary of a searching early gallop, finishing strongly under Jimmy Fortune to beat former winner Soviet Song by two lengths, with Rob Roy third and 11-10 favourite Araafa a bitterly disappointing fifth.
"He was very unlucky at Ascot when nearly knocked over, but that's history and he's now one of the best milers in Europe," said Dunlop. "He's very good round here and won like a really good horse today. The key with him is that he can quicken so well, and he did that off a decent pace today. The gap came nicely and he kept on well.
"He could stay at a mile, but I still think he could be a Group 1 horse on soft ground at six furlongs. I'd like to take him to America as a companion for Ouija Board, but we'll do what Sheikh Mohammed wants to do."
Echo Of Light set what Fortune described as "a real good gallop". "Everything went his way and he won like a good horse," Fortune said. "It felt to me like a good Group 1."
Soviet Song, a flop in the Falmouth Stakes last time, was more her old self, sticking on to be runner-up for the second year running, without threatening to win.
"She's coming back to something like her best and I'd like to have another go at the Matron Stakes," said James Fan-shawe. "We've entered her in the Sun Chariot Stakes, but the main thing is she's enjoying her racing again. I think she will go on from here. This was her final race last season, but her feet are in good nick and she's come to herself now."
Rob Roy's previous appearances at Group 1 level have ended in injury, so his third place was a welcome change for connections. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "That's the first time he's run well in a Group 1. It's a little early to make plans, but the Celebration Mile is a possibility."
Result Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes
1 Court Masterpiece Jimmy Fortune. .15-2
2 Soviet Song Johnny Murtagh 11-2
3 Rob Roy Ryan Moore 12-1
Owner Gainsborough Stud
Trainer Ed Dunlop Groom Richard Oxland Breeder Gainsborough Stud Distances 2l, 1/2l
CAPTION(S):
Strategic Prince (left, Eddie Ahern) follows up his July Stakes success with victory over Duke Of Marmalade in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes
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| Title Annotation: | Sports |
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| Publication: | The Racing Post (London, England) |
| Date: | Aug 3, 2006 |
| Words: | 543 |
| Previous Article: | CHAT ROOM. |
| Next Article: | Horse Racing: Favourite Araafa has 'off-day' as he can finish only fifth. |
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