Article Date: 22-June-2012
Trainer John Gosden and jockey William Buick dominated Friday at Royal Ascot with a superb treble.
The star of the show was Fallen For You (12/1) who won the Group 1 Coronation Stakes by over three lengths from stable companion Starscope (11/1).
Fallen For You bounced back from a sixth place finish in a Group 3 at Lingfield to take the Group 1 mile showpiece by three and a quarter lengths. It was Gosden’s 30th Royal Ascot winner.
“We always thought she was our best filly last year,” he said, “but I gave the wrong instructions in the Fillies Mile [when she was fifth], she was second in her maiden when a bit green and it was all a bit fast and speedy at Newmarket close to the pace, we rode her back to front.
“She still had it in her mind when she won at Kempton, then I ran her behind a lovely older filly of Henry’s [Chachamaidee] over seven, when she got in trouble but learned a lot. She worked really well Sunday morning, I was really pleased with her. We were ready for a big run, and got it.
“She was able to sit behind as they went off fast into a headwind today and it worked perfectly for her. She’s not ground-dependent, she’ll go on anything. I ran her on the all-weather because I didn’t want to run her on the heavy.
“I’ve had trouble getting her to relax, but she did so beautifully today. She’s really getting in the groove and has shown me today what I always thought she could do. It was no fluke.”
Buick said: “I had the choice between Elusive Kate and this filly and thought that when Fallen For You had run previously this year that things had conspired against her, but today everything worked out,” said Buick. “It was perfect for her today as she got in a good rhythm and finished the race really well.
“She won easily and like John said, this is no fluke, this is how good she is and now its onwards and upwards for her. It may have been a pleasant surprise to win like that but it was not a full surprise.
Earlier in the day Newfangled gave John Gosden his second Royal Ascot winner this week (after Joviality in the Windsor Forest Stakes) when she made every yard of the running to win the Albany Stakes by two and a half lengths. But though the result may have been expected - the filly started 7/4 favourite - its execution was not.
The refusal of Kosika to enter the stalls, and then Sendmylovetorose’s withdrawal after she went down after being installed, caused the start to be delayed. “Our plan with her had been to settle in behind the pace,” said Gosden, “but she had other ideas. With the delay I think she got a bit bored waiting and when the gates opened she broke on top.
“And as well as that the others seemed to take back because of the strong headwind - like a Formula One drive, jockeys want to sit in a slipstream - and William [Buick, rider] just let her run. She’s got a lot of speed and class.”
Newfangled is now two from two, having won on her debut at Newmarket two weeks previously. “We’ve always liked her,” added Gosden, “she’s been very athletic from the word go. She did this well, and with minimum training; because she’s so athletic she’s the sort it would be easy to overtrain. She’ll have a little holiday now and then it will be the Lowther and Cheveley Park Stakes route.”
The daughter of New Approach is now favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas. “On today you’d say she wasn’t a miler,” said Gosden “but at home she looks like she’d do any trip because she settles. But today was just a bit of a razzamatazz day and she decided to go. It’s my job now to settle her down again.”
A brilliant day for Gosden and Buick continued when they completed a 142/1 treble with victory for Gatewood in the Wolferton Handicap.
The Gaileo four-year-old was winning his third race from three starts this season when holding off Black Spirit and Mijhaar by a neck and a head respectivelty.
Gatewood’s success was also a first at Royal Ascot for USA-based owner/breeder George Strawbridge, whose familiar colours of white with a green hoop are commonly seen in European winner’s enclosures.
Gosden said: “It’s been a lovely day, and this horse was always fancied to finish in the first three. They went a good gallop and he was able to come down the outside again, but I think the trainer’s been running him over the wrong trip, and that a mile and a half would suit him better.
“He likes to come with one long run down the outside and William had him in the perfect position to do that.
“For now we savour the moment of a Royal Ascot winner and leave the future to the future. To win a race for George Strawbridge is fantastic - he is one of the last great American owners to have horses here.”
Buick was tasting his fourth victory of the week and is now clear in the QIPCO Leading Jockeys’ Award. He said: “I wanted to have Gatewood closer to the pace, but they went so quick and I wanted to keep him on an even keel. He is better than the winning margin and will improve when stepped up in trip.
“Just to have a horse that runs well at Royal Ascot is good, but to have three winners in one day is really amazing. I knew I had some good rides coming into the week, but so did other riders.
“It’s tough here, the creme de la creme, and you have to take your chance. I’m fortunate things have gone my way and the horses are in top shape.”
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